Chapters 1 and 2 in Maria Edgeworth’s The Limerick Gloves introduce the readers to the central conflict between the Irish and English cultures shown in the relationship between Brian O’Neill and Phoebe Hill. The chapters reveal the characters’ heritage, traditions, and cultural and language differences that contribute to the initial misunderstanding at the culmination of Chapter 2. This essay will consider Brian and Phoebe’s relationship at the beginning of The Limerick Gloves and argue that it is considerably affected by their distinct cultures.
Chapter 1 begins with the Hill family preparing to attend the Sunday morning service at the Hereford cathedral. The patriarch of the family, a local churchwarden, notes that his daughter, Phoebe, is putting on a new pair of gloves but is more concerned with arriving at the church on time (Edgeworth 13). His wife quickly recognizes the gloves as Limerick gloves made by the immigrant glover from Ireland, Brian O’Neill, and is troubled by the gift noting that they should not be worn “more especially when going to the cathedral” (Edgeworth 13). In this scene, the readers are introduced to the anti-Irish sentiments common in England in the early nineteenth century, with the cultural background for Phoebe and Brian’s relationship not being accepted by the English society being set.
Notably, the father does not mind Phoebe wearing new gloves to the cathedral until he learns they were made by a person of another culture who subscribes to a different religion. Mr. and Mrs. Hill insist their daughter take off the gloves and wear the mittens offered by her mother instead. The mittens are old and worn, and many people of the congregation worried why Phoebe Hill “should appear in such a shameful shabby pair of gloves on a Sunday” (Edgeworth 14-15).
Hills prefer their daughter to appear disheveled rather than associate with an Irish man. Their national prejudice is excessive, and it can be argued that it affects every aspect of their lives (Wright 135). The scene is paramount for understanding Phoebe’s blooming romance with Brian O’Neill. She is raised by proud English people who do not tolerate the Irish immigrants and view them as cultural and religious “others.” Nevertheless, she questions these beliefs, asking her parents, “Cannot an Irishman be a good man?” (Edgeworth 14). Thus, Phoebe is constrained by the traditions and culture of her family but seeks to overcome the national bias.
In Chapter 2, the readers see Phoebe considering her parents’ dislike of O’Neill based solely on him being Irish. It is revealed that the two met when O’Neill helped save a woman and her children from a burning house, and his courage and humanity attracted Phoebe to him (Edgeworth 15). Phoebe sees Brian O’Neill from the point of view of his actions towards others, including the many acts of kindness he showed to the less fortunate English and Irish people alike.
Meanwhile, her parents view him as a member of another culture who cannot assimilate into their society. Later, when the pair meet at the burned-down house of the Smith family, Phoebe recounts to her lover of her parent’s disapproval of their burgeoning romance, noting that she will not change his opinion of him “without any reason” (Edgeworth 16). At this point, what reason can contribute to Phoebe changing her mind is ambiguous. While Brian O’Neill finds it is an honor to fight for their romance and her heart, Phoebe wants to form her own opinion independently of anyone else, including her parents and Brian himself.
Nevertheless, the conflict between Phoebe and Brian at the end of chapter 2 shows that their cultures greatly impact them despite their feelings for each other. Phoebe takes offense at Brian’s use of the word “expect,” not being aware that in Ireland, it has a similar meaning to the word “hope” (Edgeworth 16). Brian, who is described at this point as having in common with his compatriots “an improper share of pride and spirit,” is insulted by Phoebe’s reaction to his blunder and leaves her abruptly (Edgeworth 17).
Thus, the beginning of their relationship is spoiled by their lack of understanding of the underlying cultural differences manifested in the language. It can be asserted that their quarrel stems from the mutual lack of education. Specifically, O’Neill shows a lack of knowledge of the English language conventions in England, being offended when he is misunderstood. Edgeworth illustrates that ignorance of other cultures can substantially affect one’s life and relationships.
In the first two chapters of The Limerick Gloves, the author portrays a blooming relationship between the daughter of English churchwarden Phoebe Hill and an Irish glover Brian O’Neill. Although the pair have feelings for each other, the start of their romance is burdened with Phoebe’s parents’ disapproval of her being courted by an Irish man and their lack of knowledge of each other’s cultures, leading to a conflict in chapter 2.
Works Cited
Edgeworth, Maria. The Limerick Gloves.
Wright, Julia M. “From Terror to Terrorism: Gothic Movements in England.” Representing the National Landscape in Irish Romanticism, Syracuse University Press, 2014.